Analysis of Effective Radiant Temperatures in a Pacific Northwest Forest Using Thermal Infrared Multispeetral Scanner Data

Analysis of Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner data collected over H. J. Andrews experimental forest in western Oregon indicated that aspect and slope gradient had a greater effect on the thermal emission of younger reforested clearcuts than of older stands. Older forest stands ( > 25 years) with greater amounts of green biomass and dosed canopies had lower effective radiant temperatures than younger, less dense stands. Aspect and slope had little effect on the effective radiant temperature (ERT) of these older stands. Canopy temperature recorded at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time 29 July 1983 were nearly equal to m ~ m u m daily air temperature recorded at eight reference stands. The investigation provided some insights into the utility of the thermal sensor for detecting surface temperature differences related to forest composition and green biomass amounts in mountain terrain.